INFORMATION
ONLY
February 1, 2000
TO:
THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED
SUBJECT:
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NON-ADOPTED AP AND IB TEXTBOOKS
In December 1999, I advised administrators of an opportunity, through the waiver
process, to receive reimbursement for textbooks used by high school students for
college credit. Since making that announcement, I received a suggestion that a similar
policy change be made for textbooks used in Advanced Placement (AP) and
International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. I recognize that it can be difficult for school
districts to encourage more students to take AP courses while trying to budget for the
additional cost of the required textbooks.
The State Board of Education and the agency are addressing this issue by now including
specific calls for AP and IB textbooks in many subjects. For example, Proclamation
1998, with textbooks scheduled for adoption in November 2000, includes a call for AP
English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition.
Proclamation 1999, with textbooks scheduled for adoption in November 2001, includes a
call for AP textbooks in Chemistry, Physics B and C, and Environmental Science. In
addition, Proclamation 1999 includes an invitation for publishers to submit textbooks in
Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Systems that are appropriate for International
Baccalaureate (IB) programs. Proclamation 2000, scheduled for approval by the State
Board of Education in March 2000, includes a specific call for AP textbooks in U. S.
History, European History, U. S. Government and Politics, Comparative Government,
and Psychology. Textbooks are also expected to be adopted for IB courses in History of
Africa, History of the Americas, History of East and Southeast Asia, History of Europe,
Geography, and Psychology. Textbooks submitted under Proclamation 2000 are
scheduled for review and adoption in 2002.
We are very optimistic that we can have state-adopted/state-purchased textbooks for all
the advanced courses within the next few years. In the meantime, however, we are
implementing the following policy change, effective for non-state-adopted AP and IB
textbooks purchased for use beginning with school year 2000-2001:

School districts will be eligible for reimbursement of textbook expenses only in AP
and IB subjects with no state-adopted AP or IB textbooks. Reimbursement will be up
to the maximum amount paid by the state for a state-adopted textbook in the subject.
To the Administrator Addressed
Page 2

School districts must apply for a waiver of the requirements of Texas Education
Code, Section 31.101, to be reimbursed under this policy. The waivers will not
exceed three years. Waiver requests need not be filed for each student, course, or
textbook, only for the district as a whole.

The state will own the textbooks and the textbooks will be counted in the school
district's inventory of state-purchased textbooks. The state will not accept returns of
textbooks purchased under this policy. As with other textbooks, changes in student
enrollment will affect the number of textbooks for which you are eligible to receive
reimbursement.

When new AP or IB textbooks are adopted by the State Board of Education for the
same AP or IB subjects after you have been reimbursed by the state, your district will
be eligible to receive the new state-adopted textbooks.

School districts must submit purchasing information, such as an invoice or receipt, to
the textbook administration division to receive reimbursement.
The waiver request forms can be downloaded and printed from the waivers section of
the agency web page (www.tea.state.tx.us). Textbook proclamations and the textbook
adoption cycle can also be viewed in the textbook section of the agency web page. For
information related to reimbursement, contact Dr. Robert Leos in textbook
administration. He can be reached by email at rleos@tmail.tea.state.tx.us or by
telephone at (512) 463-9601.
We hope that this policy change will provide some relief for your school district as you
encourage more students to enroll in higher level courses.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education
rhl